Massachusetts Serving Health Information Needs of Elders (SHINE)

This program provides you with information and printed materials, referrals to other agencies, and one-on-one health insurance counseling at no cost to you. Counselors can answer your questions about:

• Medicare Part A and Part B
• Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Medicare Part D)
• Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
• Medicare Advantage Plans (HMOs and PPOs)
• Long-term care insurance
• Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and QI)
• Prescription drug assistance programs or drug discount cards offered by your state and pharmaceutical companies
• Medicaid and other insurance programs, including free or reduced-fee health care programs

Counselors can help you understand your rights and benefits under your health insurance coverage, identify and compare health insurance options, and protect you from paying too much on your medical care and prescription drugs.

How do I apply?

To get help from the program, please call 1-800-243-4636. Through SHINE’s Medicare Outreach and Education (MORE) project, SHINE counselors can provide you with assistance if you have limited English-speaking abilities. To speak to a SHINE counselor in your preferred language, call one of the following numbers:

• 1-508-996-8113 (Cape Verdean Creole)
• 1-617-357-0226 (Chinese)
• 1-617-298-8076 (Haitian Creole)
• 1-978-683-7316 (Khmer)
• 1-508-996-8113 (Portuguese)
• 1-978-794-5886 (Spanish)
• 1-617-288-7344 (Vietnamese)